Draft gear



DRAFT GEAR A. H. OELKERS Filed NOV. l2, 1951 Jan. 14, 1936..

Patented Jan. 14, 1936 lUNITED STATES DRAFT GEAR Alfred H. Oelkers, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corpcration of New Jersey Application November 12,

1931, Serial No. 574,470

11 Claims. (C1. 213-7) The present invention relates todraft appliances and more in particular to draft gears having differential movement during the transmission of draft and buing forces.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel draft gear of particularly high capacity and which likewise has differential movement during the transmission of. draft and bufiing forces.

In operation, on long trains of railway cars, as well as in the handling of such cars in yards where trains are classified, it has been found that there is a considerably greater need for a draft gear which has a higher cushioning capacity to absorb the bufiing shocks than is required for resisting jerks or shocks due to the pulling of the cars. It is of course well-known that the amount of energy which can be effectively absorbed by friction elements in the draft gear depends to a large extent on the distance or travel through which the coupler and the friction elements move. At the present time, and because of the particular equipment used, as for example the means for conveying the compressed air between the cars, it is highly desirable and essential that the travel of draft gears be limited within the practical limits determined by the equipment now used with these railway cars.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a draft gear in which the total travel during the transmission of draft and buffing forces is substantially equal to the travel of draft gears as now constructed, but in which there is differential movement as between the movement while transmitting draft and bufng forces.

More specifically, the present invention comprehends the idea of providing an arrangement in a draft gear in which the travel thereof during buff is substantially twice as much as the travel during draft, and inasmuch as the energy absorbed is substantially proportional to the travel of the draft gear, the absorption of shocks due to buff is therefore considerably greater than that during the transmission of draft forces.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

in the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure i is a fragmentary top plan view of a draft gear made in accordance with the present invention and having parts broken away to show more in detail certain portions thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal vertical Cross section of the embodiments shown in Figure 1 of the drawing;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section taken in a plane substantially represented by line 3-3 of Figure l of the drawing; and 5 Figure 4 is a detached view in side elevation of one of the center sills of the present draft appliance.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a draft appliance made in accordance with the pres- 10 ent invention is shown as including center sills 2 and 4 suitably secured in any desired manner to the car body with which this draft appliance is associated. Adjacent the forward end of each of the center sills 2 and 4, the same are formed 15 with elongated slots 6 and 8, and a striking casting Il) is received therebetween, this striking casting I0 being formed with spaced pairs of arms I2 and I3 conforming with the openings 6 of the center sills, these arms being secured to the cen- 20 ter sills in any desired manner and having inwardly disposed flanges I5 and Il, respectively, defining openings for passage of friction elements therethrough. These flanges I5 and Il terminate adjacent the end of the openings in substantially 25 vertical flanges I9 providing a stop, these flanges I9 being reinforced by the horizontally disposed flange 2 I. The arms I3 are further provided with a lower flange 23 providing means for securing the same to the center sills.

The draft appliance made in accordance with the present invention is shownv as including a forward draft gear I4 and a rear draft gear I6, each of these draft gears being of somewhat similai` construction and including a plurality of coop erating friction members, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

The front or forward draft gear I4 comprises a front wedge member I3 and a rear wedge member 20 extending between the center sills 2 and 4 and protruding through the openings between the arms I2 and I3 and center sills. interposed between the forward and rear wedge members I8 and 20 are friction blocks 22 and 24 having diagonally disposed friction faces cooperating with the diagonally disposed friction faces of the wedge blocks I8 and 2U. It will be noticed that the arms I3 extend rearwardly of the arms I2 and have their iianges II of suiiicient length to amply support the front and rear wedge members I8 and 2i), while the arms I2 extend rearwardly to overlap the rear wedge member 20 when in its normal inoperative position, the flanges I5 thereof serving to guide the cooperating wedge and friction blocks during their movement. The forward and rear wedge blocks I8 and 2!! are embraced by a yoke 26 formed integrally with the coupler stem 28 of a coupler 30, which is carried upon a wear plate 3i adapted to embrace the lower portion 33 of the striking casting IIl. The rear edge 60 of the rear wedge member 20 is recessed, as at 32, to provide an arcuate or cylindrical shaped bearing surface cooperating with the rear end 34 of. the yoke portion 26 to provide an arrangement whereby maximum bearing areas are provided for the transmission of draft forces between the coupler and this forward draft gear, and irrespective of the angular disposition of the coupler stem 28. The forward wedge member I8 is further formed with the arcuate surface 36 adapted to cooperate with a complementary arcuate surface 38 formed on the forward wall of the integral yoke portion 26 for the transmission of bufiing forces between the coupler and the draft gear of the present draft appliance, these cooperating arcuate bearing surfaces effecting a maximum bearing area between the coupler and the forward wedge member IS under all conditions and irrespective of the angular relation between these two elements.

The rear portion of the wedge block I8 and the forward portion of the wedge block 26 are formed with a stop portion, such as 4Q, these stop portions being normally spaced apart and providing means for limiting the movement of the draft gear I4 during the transmission of draft or bufiing forces. Each of these stop portions 40 is formed with a transverse slot or groove 42 adapted to receive a part of a attened portion 44 of the transversely disposed spring supporting rod or member 46. This spring supporting rod or member 46 extends outwardly through suitable openings provided in each of the friction blocks 22 and 24 and has nuts 48 suitably secured to each of its ends. Adjacent each of these nuts 48 is a washer 50 between which and a friction block is a coil spring 52, the inner end of the coil spring 52 seating within a recess, such as 54, provided in the outer surface of each of the friction blocks 22 and 24 Operating in conjunction with the forward draft gear I4 is the rear draft gear I6, the draft gear I6 being of a construction very similar to the construction of the forward draft gear I4 and including the forward wedge member 56 and rear wedge member 58, the friction blocks 6U and 62 being interposed therebetween and having diagonally disposed friction faces cooperating with complementary faces provided on the wedge blocks 56 and 58. The rear draft gear I6 extends between the center sills L* and 4 and through the elongated slots 8 provided therein, the rear wedge block 58 being adapted to have abutting engagement with a back stop casting 64, while the forward wedge block 56 is normally in engagement with the forward edges of the slots 8 of the center sills. The back stop casting 64 is formed with a body portion 65 and oppositely disposed pairs of spaced arms 61 and 69 extending forwardly thereof, these arms having inwardly disposed fianges II and "I3 defining an opening for the rear draft gear. Each of the arms 69 is provided with a bottom fiange I5 for securing these arms to the flanges of the center sills as in the striking casting, the arms 69 extending forwardly beyond the arms 6'I and the flanges I3 thereof providing substantial bearing for the cooperating wedge and friction blocks of the rear draft gear, the arms 6? extending forwardly and overlapping the front wedge block 56 for guiding the same as well as the other wedge and friction members of the draft gear.

The rear wedge block 53 normally abuts a transversely disposed member l1 extending between opposite arms 61 and 69 and connecting the same together adjacent the openings for the draft gear, this member 'I1 having a centrally disposed lug 'I9 entering into a recess 8I of the wedge block 58 to prevent displacement of the rear draft gear when the same is in its normal position.

It will be quite apparent from the above disclosure, that for the transmission of draft forces, only the forward draft gear I4 acts for resisting movement of the coupler 30 and its integrally formed yoke portion 26. The movement of the integrally formed yoke portion 26 is limited by the movement permitted between the stop portions 49 of the forward and rear wedge members I8 and 26, respectively.

However, when the coupler 30 is subjected to bufiing forces, the integral yoke portion 26 moves toward the rear to effect a movement of the forward wedge member I8, as likewise the rearward wedge member 20. Inasmuch as the rear wedge member 20 is formed with rearwardly disposed lugs 66 and 68 normally adapted to contact with the forward wedge member 56 of the rear draft gear I 6, this wedge member 56 is moved rearwardly to effect operation of the rear draft gear I6. Movement of the coupler 30 during the transmission of buffing forces is therefore limited to the permitted travel of the front and rear wedge members of both the forward draft gear I4 and the rear draft gear I6, while in draft, movement of the coupler 30 is limited to substantially one-half this amount, which is determined by the movement of the forward and rear wedge members of the forward draft gear I4 only.

It is of course understood that the forward and rear wedge members of the rear draft gear I6 may be under initial tension which may be varied by selecting suitable coil springs which resist movement of the cooperating friction members of the rear draft gear I6 during the transmission of bufling forces.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, and a draft gear extending between said members and through and beyond said slots and abutting said backstop casting, said backstop casting and draft gear having cooperating means preventing lateral displacement of said draft gear in said slots.

2. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, and a draft gear extending between said members and through and beyond said slots, said draft gear including a rear wedge member abutting said backstop casting and being formed with a recess, said backstop casting having a projection fitting in said recess to prevent lateral displacement of said draft gear in said slots.

3. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, arm members extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and anemie flanges, and a draft gear between said draft members extending through and beyond said slots, said draft gear being disposed between the forward end of said slots and backstop casting and being embraced by said flanges to provide a housing for supporting and enclosing the same.

4. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, said backstop casting having integral arm members extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots and having inwardly disposed flanges, and a draft gear between said draft members extending through and beyond said slots, said draft gear being disposed between the forward end of said slots and backstop casting and being embraced by said flanges to provide a housing for supporting and enclosing the same.

5. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, said backstop casting having integral arm members extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots and having inwardly disposed flanges, and a draft gear between said draft members extending through and beyond said slots, said draft gear including front and rear wedge members abutting the front end of said slots and backstop casting, respectively, and friction members therebetween, said draft gear being embraced by said flanges to provide a housing for supporting and enclosing the same, the bottom arms extending forwardly and terminating adjacent the front face of said front wedge member and the top arms being shorter and extending to overlap said front wedge member.

6. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members having oppositely disposed slo-ts, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, said backstop casting having integral arm members extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots and having inwardly disposed flanges, and a draft gear between said draft members extending through and beyond said slots, said draft gear including front and rear wedge members abutting the front end of said slots and backstop casting, respectively, and friction members therebetween, said draft gear being embraced by said flanges to provide a housing for supporting and enclosing the same, the bottom arms extending forwardly and terminating adjacent the front face of said front wedge member and the top arms being shorter and extending to overlap said front wedge member, said backstop casting and rear wedge member having interlocking means preventing lateral displacement of said draft gear in said slots,

7. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members provided with lower inwardly disposed flanges and having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, spaced arms extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots, said upper arms having a flange defining the upper side of said slots, each of said lower arms having a flange seating on the ange of said members and a flange defining the lower side of said slots, means for connecting said arms to said members, said backstop casting having a I stop portion extending between said arms, a draft gear between said members and extending through said slots and abutting said stop portion, said flanges dening said slot providing a housing for said draft gear.

8. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members provided with lower inwardly disposed anges and having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, spaced arms extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots, said upper arms having a iiange defining the upper side of said slots, each of said lower arms having a flange seating on the flange of said members and a flange defining the lower side of said slots, means for connecting said arms to said members, said backstop casting having a stop portion extending between said arms, a draft gear between said members including a rear friction member abutting said stops, said stop and friction member having interlocking means preventing lateral movement of said member relative to said backstop casting, said flangesdeflning said slot providing a housing for said draft gear.

9. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members provided with oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, spaced arms extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots and having inwardly disposed flanges dening the upper and lower sides of said slots, means for connecting said arms and backstop to said members, said backstop casting having a stop portion extending between said arms, and a draft gear between said members and extending. through said slots, said draft gear abutting the front end of said slots in said members and the stop portion of said backstop.

10. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members provided with oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting extending between and secured to said members adjacent the rear end of said slots, spaced arms extending forwardly from said backstop casting above and below said slots and having inwardly disposed flanges defining the upper and lower sides of said slots, means for connecting said arms and back- .stop to said members, said backstop casting having a stop portion extending between said arms, and a draft gear between said members and extending through said slots, said draft gear abutting the front end of said slots in said members and the stop portion of said backstop, said stop portion and draft gear having interlocking means preventing lateral movement of said draft gear relative to said backstop casting.

11. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft members provided with oppositely disposed slots, a backstop comprising a body portion having spaced pairs of upper and lower arms extending therefrom, said lower pair of arms having inwardly disposed flanges7 means for securing the same to said draft members, said arms having inwardly disposed flanges defining slots substantially coextensive with said first-named slots for receiving a draft gear, said body portion having a part extending between said arms and providing a draft gear stop, and means on said upper pair of arms and body portion for securing said backstop to draft members.

ALFRED I-I. OELKERS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

January 14, 1936.

Patent NO. 2,027.418.

ALFRED H. OELKERS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2., second column, after line '75, claim 3, insert the Words below said slots and having inwardly disposed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day February, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer {Seal} Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

